Bill would provide tax credit for citizens fined for not getting healthcare

Republican State Rep. Jon Echols recently authored HB 3364. If passed, the measure would allow the state to offset the cost of fines incurred by Oklahomans who opt out of federally mandated healthcare requirements in the Affordable Care Act.

“I don’t really ever go to the doctor. I’m pretty healthy, don’t feel like I need health insurance,” said Chelsea Ryan, a waitress who decided not to buy into the open healthcare exchange.

“The citizens have spoken overwhelmingly. The state of Oklahoma is against the Affordable Healthcare Act,” Echols said.

Echols maintained his bill would take the sting out of the federal healthcare mandate for people like Ryan.

“If this bill were to pass, every citizen for one year that is fined for a violation of the affordable health care act, would be able to have a dollar for dollar credit on their taxes,” he said.

Oklahomans who do not pay taxes would not be eligible for the tax credit.

But the leading house democrat disagreed with Echols’ assessment, and said the bill is fiscally irresponsible.

“We struggle to be able to afford to put enough money into education and other important programs. We’re certainly not going to pay $24 million for people who refuse to get health insurance when they can certainly well afford to do so,” said Rep. Scott Inman. “While the Affordable Care Act certainly has problems, this particular legislation is not the solution.”

Regardless of the outcome, Echols wants his bill to start a broader conversation.

“Maybe this bill is the answer; maybe this bill’s not the answer,” he conceded. “That’s what the legislative process is about, but we need to have the conversation about the role of the State of Oklahoma to protect its citizens from the overreaching federal government.”

HB3364 passed the House Appropriations Committee and is now awaiting a hearing on the House floor within the next two weeks.

TONIGHT A PLAN TO GIVE YOU MONEY IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO TAKE PART IN OBAMA CARE. KOCO'S ERIELLE RESHEF IS LIVE. ERIELLE... LAWMAKERS SAY IT'S A WAY TO HELP OKLAHOMANS. PAUL, THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL SAYS IT IS INTENDED TO PROTECT OKLAHOMANS FROM -- WHAT HE CALLS "FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVERREACH" BUT OPPONENTS ARE CALLING THE BILL IRRESPONSIBLE I don't really ever go to the doctor, I'm pretty healthy, don't feel like I need health insurance. A FEELING SHARED BY MANY OKLAHOMANS - WHO EITHER OPPOSE OR JUST DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR MANDATED HEALTH INSURANCE "The citizens have spoken overwhelmingly, the state of Oklahoma is against the Affordable Health Care Act" "If this bill were to pass, every citizen for one year that is fined for a violation of the affordable health care act, would be able to have a dollar for dollar credit on their taxes" BUT THE LEADING HOUSE DEMOCRAT SAYS ECHOLS' BILL IS FINANCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE we struggle to be able to afford to put enough money into education and other important programs, we're certainly not gonna pay $24million for people who refuse to get health insurance when they can certainly well afford to do so 49 ECHOLS WANTS HIS BILL TO START A BROADER CONVERSATION Maybe this bill is the answer, maybe this bill's not the answerthat's what the legislative process is about, but we need to have the conversation about the role of the State of Oklahoma to protect its citizens from the overreaching federal government 19 While the affordable care act certainly has problems, this particular legislation is not the solution THE BILL PASSED A HOUSE COMMITTEE AND IS WAITING TO BE HEARD BY THE FULL HOUSE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. LIVE AT THE CAPITOL, ERIELLE RESHEF, KOCO 5 NEWS. YOU HAVE ABOUT 2